The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-26
THEY ACT LIKE HYENAS
Indecent Haste of the Gang in Placing
0'D0nnell on Their Ticket.
Indignation Among the Friends of the Late
City Clerk-Ths Law Relating to the Fill
ing Of Mr.. Shields's Unexpired Term.

There is a great deal of indignation among
friends of Michael F. Shields the undue
haste of the Coy gang in putting Michael O'Don-
nell the the ticket for city clerk in his place
within two hours after his death. The ODon-
nell nomination made ostensiby by the
Democratic executive committee but really by
Sim Coy and John Z. Sullivan alone. The in
decency of this action. yesterday. was severely
criticised. There were other circumstances that
tended to make the affair worse, particularly the
fact that Coy and Sullivan fatty refused to con-
slider any one but O'Donnsll for the vacancy.
They were advised to postpone the nomination
until the remains of Mr.. Shields were
buried. but 20 this they replied 1--WE
can't do it. There are already
score of candidates, and we
don't want TO be bothered by their solicitations
the appeals of their friends. Mike O'Donnell
is good enough for u.s." When the committee
met, q member of it, a friend OK the late
candidate, moved the nomination of his
brother. Thomas c. Shields. At the instigation
of Coy and Sullivan the motion was voted down.
R. o. Johnson and Charles E. Haugh were sug
gested as candidates, but Sullivan had decided
on having his dspusy, O'Donnell, on the ticket
and so, as Democrat characterized it, the
spoiIs were equally divided, Coy taking Eden
harter his special candidate, and Sullivan
acting sponsor Cor O'Donnell.
1T is thoroughly a ring ticket" said
friend of Mr.. Shields. last night. ''and there can
be nothing more disgusting than the haste with
which Coy and Sullivan fixed 1t up suit them
selves These TWO did not want Mr..
Shields renominated in the first place. because
he was identified with them. but they
were forced to recognize his claim as they in
face of the Union Labor ticket his candidacy
would be worth many hundred votes for Eden
barter. Men whose sympathies
with the Union Labor movement
were held to support the Democratic
ticket solely on account of Mr.. Shields. Anoth-
or class among which his candidacy exerted
marked influence was the railroad mon with
whom he had been associated for years. They
formed powerful nucleus upon which Mr..
Shields relied mostly in his first canvass. To
man they remained with Aim in this campaign.
ODonnell will never be able to secure tenth
OF them, nor as much OF that labor
S vote; By the the death death. of Mr., Mr.
its strength far as ths consideration of rail-
road and labor men is concerned Their votes
will now go to White or Bowus. It was possible
for the gang to save a part Of this vote had the
action of its leaders been decent, but the selling
of dead mans shoes before the death OF Mr..
Shields generally known. and filing the
vacancy with a man like ODonnell. has put the
seal of condemnation the Democratic ticket.
The antecedents of O'Donnell being
viewed with no less severity Of disapproval than
that which follows the manner of his nomina-
ton. For months Coy fought for the removal
of John A. Lang from the superintendency
of police, and when it was finally accomplished
O'Donnell was named as his successor upon the
assumption that he only Of all the Democrats on
the force Was free from the Coy influence. The
first Sunday after O'Donnell was installed as
superintendent the gang very
having what it so earnestly desires-''a wide
open town" As long as ODonneli was supsrin-
tendent the gang enjoyed privileges which it had
ties of his Office finally caused the Board that
appointed him to place another man in charge
OF the force. For a short time he remained out
of Office. but whom John E. Sullivan became
docket In this position ODonnsll was
of criminal jodgs on the strength of the tally
sheets that were forged in his favor. With
Ayres as judge and O'Donnell as clerk, the gang
Dover AI Since Ayr.s failed the usefulness Of
O'Dounell to Coy and Sullivan in their political
methods circumscribed by a Republican
ticket afforded an opportunity to place him
where, in the event of an election, he could do
much. il not more, for the gang thsn as dep
uty clerk in the Criminal Court and Coy and
Sullivan did not lose a minute In their indecent
haste accom- plish their purpose.
The gang is well equipped with the means of
money at the command of Coy are being used
partly in coloniZing voters In the North
wards Fifty OF them have been CHARTERED, while
on the South Side there ara said to be squads of
them under discipline for the work of epeatiEg
on election day. It Ia proposed by the gang to
send them into wards whore the chances of detec-
ton are least
How Mr. shislds's Term Can Be Filled.
at the special meeting of Council tonight the
question of moment to be considered is the con-
troll of the city clerks Office pending arrange
ment by which the unexpired term of Mr.
Shields can be filed. City Attorney Taylor has
examined the law bearing on the matter. and
finds that while an immediate succession is pro-
vded for in case OF vacancy in all
other Offices except legislative, there
is none for the city clerks Office. Here. as
in vacancy of tho Mayors Office. the law re-
cuirss the Council and Board of Aldermen to
order spesial election but there is no provision
for an ad interim administration of the city
clerks Office The general election law as to a
special election in this instance must apply,
there 10 statute specifically relating to it.
The general laws provide that the sheriff shall
give special election notice as in the
case of regular elections The clerk ia therefore
required to certify TO him the call for such
election twenty days before the date fixed and
thu shorf is TO give notice by posters and publ
cation in ewspapsrs fftsen days before the day
for said election. There ia q provision, though,
which saws such notice may be posted and pub
lished for ten days only.
of the tax duplicate has been taken from the
city clerk, and since he is not executive
officer In any sense of the term bnt simply
countersigns aud attssts the signature OF the
Mayor to all ordinances permits, and licenses,
hs duties are purely clerical, there
fore any act ad interim by the deputy who
was appointed OF tho city clerk and confirmed
by the council and Board of Aldermen would
probably be valid. He will hold that as
there is an absolute necessity for an
occupa ut OF the Office pending election to fill
the vacancy, a concurrent resolution passed by
the Council and the Board of Aldermen, formally
sanctionlng the acts of the deputy, would be
sufficient for providing for ad interim dis
charge of the city clerks duties; but there is no
statutory provision, he says, by which the com
mon Council and Board of Aldermen ap-
point city clerk during the time until special
election Is held.
FALL OF A FLOOR